Notre Dame’s rising star and WNBA prospect Hannah Hidalgo was “locked in” alongside senior guard Olivia Miles as the No. 6 Fighting Irish dealt No. 3 USC their first season loss in a seeded upset victory.

Hidalgo, a 2023 ESPN 5-star recruit, led the charge with a game-high 24 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and five steals, while Miles added 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in a dominant 74-61 win. Hidalgo scored 15 of her 24 points before halftime and set the tone early as the Trojans struggled from the field and shot 1-of-13 from beyond the arc for the entire game.

Even during a quieter second quarter, where she managed just five points, including three free throws, Hidalgo’s presence on both ends of the floor kept Notre Dame in control. After the game, the Notre Dame leader stressed how proud she was of her teammates to knock down an early season title contender.

“I think we did a good job. I’m so proud of everyone. We won that game because we were locked in,” said the 2024 first-team All-American. Her words rang true as the Fighting Irish executed a game plan that capitalized on turnovers with suffocating defense.

While USC featured stars in Juju Watkins and Kiki Iriafen, Hidalgo and Miles’s duo provided 44 of the team’s 71 points, with no other Fighting Irish player reaching double digits. For USC, Watkins put up 24 points on 10-of-25 shooting, while Iriafen added 15 points in a strenuous 40-minute effort.

Notre Dame’s defense recorded 17 steals and forced 21 turnovers, converting those mistakes into 22 points. USC’s shooting struggles led to the Fighting Irish gaining a lead as big as 21 points in the game. “Sonia [Citron] did a great job on Juju, and our bigs did a great job on Kiki,” Hidalgo continued post-game. “They’re a phenomenal team, so congrats to them, but I’m really proud of my team.”

Hannah Hidalgo celebrates a play against USC

Hidalgo praised her teammates defense on Watkins and Iriafen ( 

Image:

Getty)

The win solidifies Notre Dame’s place among the nation’s elite teams. With rankings updating each Monday and USC now being the only team in the top five with a loss, the Fighting Irish will more than likely jump into the nation’s top five teams.

For USC, the loss exposed areas for improvement despite their star-studded roster. While Watkins and Iriafen remain two of the nation’s top players, the Trojans will need to display better offensive execution and efficiency, get more production from the bench, and strengthen their bench presence to contend with top-tier opponents like Notre Dame.

“I think this is a learning experience for the whole team,” said Watkins to the media after the game. “[There is] so much to learn as far as chemistry and everything. The biggest thing for me is to stay poised and under control the whole game. It wasn’t the prettiest for me.”